Tel Aviv hosts test of new tunnel detection system

Soldiers of IDF Talpiot project develop a new system comprised of sensors and special transmitters which they are testing in the tunnels beneath Ayalon freeway in the center of Tel Aviv.

Yoav Zitun|Published: 07.17.14 , 00:19

Recently, the defense establishment registered progress in its attempt to find a solution to locating one of Hamas' disturbing threats: the terror tunnels. Soldiers of IDF Talpiot program, who have been working on developing an innovative system, have held a successful experiment in Tel Aviv underground tunnels.

The project developers were searching for months for tunnels similar to those that were exposed in the Gaza Strip, in order to test the new system which is comprised of sensors and special transmitters.

They requested to perform their tests in underground sewage tunnels which are managed by Igudan – Gush Dan metropolitan company responsible for the purification and discharge of sewage waters.

Terror tunnel in Gaza (Photo: Herzl Yosef)

Igudan's management allowed Talpiot staff to test the system for three days in three new tunnels that haven't been used yet for their original purpose. One tunnel is located beneath Mikve Israel compound near the city of Holon and the other two are beneath Ayalon freeway adjacent to its Tel Aviv section.

According to sources that witnessed the rare experiment, the test was conducted successfully and according to its developers' expectations. The research and development stages are expected to continue in the coming months and if the system succeeds in additional tests, it would become operational within a year and IDF could create a revolution in the way it handles Hamas and Hezbollah strategic weapons.